Sands launches ‘Say Their Name Day’ in the UK on 25th March

The UK’s leading pregnancy and baby loss charity Sands is encouraging all bereaved parents, families and friends to join in Say Their Name Day on 25th March to help everyone understand that every baby matters and is loved.

This will be the first time Say Their Name Day has been officially marked in the UK – it’s an important opportunity for bereaved parents to say their baby’s name, and to hear it from others.

Sadly, every day in the UK, 13 babies die before, during or shortly after birth, and at least one in six pregnancies end in miscarriage.

Yet despite so many people being touched by pregnancy or baby loss, the issue is too often surrounded by stigma, shame or silence.

Say Their Name Day (25th March) will help raise awareness of how many families here are impacted by pregnancy and baby loss every year.

Sands’ Chief Executive Clea Harmer said: “On Say Their Name Day we want to bring together parents who’ve experienced the loss of a baby – to amplify their voices and make sure they are heard.

“Some people may think that talking about a baby who has died, or a lost pregnancy, will further upset those who have experienced this loss. In fact, bereaved parents tell us that when people say nothing about their baby it only leaves them feeling more isolated.

“Of course you may not have given your baby a name, there are many reasons that parents don’t. But you can still mark their memory publicly on the day if that’s something you’d like to do, and it’s absolutely fine if you prefer to say your baby’s name, or remember them, privately on the day.

“The more we speak up and support each other, the more our voices will inspire change and turn understanding into action. So please join us on 25th March for Say Their Name Day to share your baby’s name, or memory, and support other families too.”

Sands is encouraging everyone to find out more about how they can join Say Their Name Day on the charity’s website: sands.org.uk/say-their-name

Families can make a dedication to their baby or babies on the Say Their Name online memory wall or download and print a Say Their Name sign and share a photo of this on social media if they would like to.

It’s also a chance for anyone to donate to Sands and support parents who are experiencing the heartbreak and devastation of pregnancy and baby loss.

The history of Say Their Name Day

Say Their Name Day has been running in Australia since 2019. Every year thousands of parents come together to say their baby’s name and support each other.

The day was established in Australia in 2019 by the charity Red Nose that supports bereaved families in a similar way to Sands in the UK.

Amy Cooper, CEO of Red Nose Australia, said: “The expansion of the campaign internationally was a significant milestone for the organisation and for bereaved families.

“Say Their Name Day was created to ensure every baby is acknowledged and remembered, and to help families feel supported in speaking about their child. We are incredibly proud to have started this day in Australia eight years ago and to see it extend overseas is incredibly humbling. It’s a powerful reminder that the need to recognise and honour babies’ lives is universal.

“Our hope is that Say Their Name Day becomes the start of a global movement that encourages more open conversations about loss and leads to better bereavement support and care for families everywhere.”